Cops and Ralph
Tribune columnist Rebecca Walsh wades in on a proposed state law to close police misconduct reports to the public. She points out how the currently open records made it impossible for even the po
lice union President Tom Gallegos to be in cahoots with SLCPD chief Chris Burbank to keep a lid on some nasty Gallegos antics.
Becker has asked his staff to "further analyze the scope of the bill and suggest changes to narrow its effects," says his spokeswoman Helen Langan. She says the mayor doesn't want the law to impede his belief in "government transparency." Since when does Buttars listen to Becker?
Speaking of transparency, Mayor, what's this use of a mouthpiece for communicating with the news media? Where's the old Ralph who would bat an issue around with reporters, maybe field a hard question or two?
lice union President Tom Gallegos to be in cahoots with SLCPD chief Chris Burbank to keep a lid on some nasty Gallegos antics.Gallegos probably would rather not have the dirty details of his on-the-job sexual harassment training revealed. But even Chief Burbank couldn't help him. West Jordan Republican Sen. Chris Buttars can. He's sponsoring legislation that would allow cops like Gallegos - with the complicity of police chiefs like Burbank - to keep their disciplinary records secret. Under the bill, which is backed by the Utah Chiefs of Police Association, officers would have to consent to release information about their bad acts.
Meanwhile, SLC Mayor Ralph Becker has pulled back his previous total support for the cops secrecy bill. Ralph's liberal urban backers were bewildered by their new mayor's taste for government secrecy.
Becker has asked his staff to "further analyze the scope of the bill and suggest changes to narrow its effects," says his spokeswoman Helen Langan. She says the mayor doesn't want the law to impede his belief in "government transparency." Since when does Buttars listen to Becker?
Speaking of transparency, Mayor, what's this use of a mouthpiece for communicating with the news media? Where's the old Ralph who would bat an issue around with reporters, maybe field a hard question or two?
2 Comments:
Ha. Not only one spokeswoman in Becker's office to work through--there are actually two!First, like any good reporter who wants comment you call Becker's cell phone, which he doesn't answer. So then,hoping to reach him, you call communications czarina Karen Hale. Then she sends you (or maybe her aide sends you) to next in line, Helen Langan.
Money must be good over there in the mayor's office to have that many paid mouthpieces. Not to mention access issues to a political official in general.
It's all about the delegation.
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